Church Attack Survivors Applaud Re-arrest, Prosecution Of Mastermind

Following the recent arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) of Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the suspected mastermind of the 2012 gun attack on a Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, near Okene in Kogi State which killed over 19 worshippers, families of victims and survivors have applauded his re-arrest and trial.

Victims, families, survivors and residents of the town expressed satisfaction with the observable speed and vigour the DSS is prosecuting Obadaki, and affirmed confidence in the ability of the court to dispense justice.

On August 7, 2012 three men armed with AK-47 rifles opened fire on a bible study session of the Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, leaving   15 people dead. Four others later died from injuries sustained during the attack. Dozens more were injured in the attack believed to be the handiwork of the Ansaru terrorist group.

After the Okene attack, Obadaki reportedly led a gang that raided five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, killing several persons and carting away huge sums of cash.

He was however was trailed and arrested by security forces and remanded at the Kuje Prison but escaped during the July 2022 jailbreak at the Kuje Custodial Centre.

On November 15, 2025, the DSS announced that it had recaptured him.

Six days later, the service arraigned Obadaki before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, aiding attacks, concealment of information, and escape from lawful custody.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to January 26, 2026 but added that he should remain in DSS custody pending the next hearing.

A representative of the community leaders, Malaki Ado who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said: “We had given up on ever getting justice. And you won’t blame us. We are therefore happy to hear that he was arrested.

“The long years Obadaki spent without trial began to sow seeds of doubt in our hearts. We still live with the scars of that attack. The next thing we heard in 2022 was that he escaped during the Kuje jail break.

“Suddenly, like a bolt from the blues, we heard in mid -November that the DSS recaptured him. Given all that we have heard concerning the new DSS leadership, and the way they quickly arraigned him, our cautious optimism has since given way to rekindled faith and hope that true change has come. Somehow, we believe that things will be different this time around, and we would get justice from our courts.”